Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) planners calculate that the airport could be handling up to nine A380s a day by 2008 when aircraft operated by Air France, FedEx Express, Korean Air, Lufthansa, Singapore Airlines, Qantas and Virgin Atlantic are all expected to be flying the double-decker to California.
"We are preparing to begin improvements to the runways and to begin reconfiguring the taxiways," says the airport, which is adding numerous taxiways, intersections and runway turn-off fillets to handle the A380. "We are also planning to modify two gates and make other necessary improvements at the Tom Bradley International terminal," it says.
In addition, LAX plans to introduce a similarly modified double bridge jetway at Terminal Two, and is studying the same upgrade for "a couple" of remote gates at the west end of the airfield.
The airport is also expected to announce a $250 million renovation of the Tom Bradley terminal this month, which will include increasing the baggage collection area. It does not, however, include the A380-specific gate upgrade, which will be handled separately, says LAX. "We are looking at the proposals now, so clearly we will be starting soon." The airport is, as yet, unable to give an exact schedule for the proposed A380 changes.
Source: Flight International
